No Reason to Stop Ponce from WBC "It Shows If the Jays Made the Right Call"

[마이데일리 = 심혜진 기자] Attention is focused on whether Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Cody Ponce will participate in the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC). Local Toronto media are placing significant meaning on the possibility of his participation.

Ponce dominated the KBO League in 2025 while wearing a Hanwha Eagles uniform, establishing himself as the league’s top pitcher. He appeared in 29 regular-season games, throwing 180⅔ innings and posting an outstanding 17–1 record with a 1.89 ERA and 252 strikeouts. He became the first foreign pitcher to win four major pitching categories (wins, ERA, winning percentage, and strikeouts) and capped the season by winning league MVP honors.

On the strength of that performance, Ponce signed a three-year, $30 million contract with Toronto, successfully making his return to Major League Baseball.

With the upcoming season comes an international tournament — the WBC. Ponce has reportedly received an invitation to play for Team Mexico, as he is eligible due to his father being of Mexican descent.

According to Sporting News, Ponce said, “I’m not 100 percent sure that I can play. Right now, I’m with Toronto. I need to talk to the team first and see what they want, and what the best option is for me.”

A Toronto insider added context, saying, “There shouldn’t be a major obstacle for Ponce to play in the tournament, as several of his teammates have already accepted invitations. Toronto is expected to be well represented at the event. This is yet another example of how far the organization has come compared to just a few years ago.”

Sporting News reporter Jared Bloom echoed that sentiment, stating, “There are already several Toronto players who have committed to playing in the WBC, including Vladimir Guerrero Jr., George Springer, and José Berríos. With the club being so well represented, there’s no real reason for the front office to prevent Ponce from playing for Team Mexico if that’s what he wants.”

The Toronto insider also pointed to another factor. “It’s still too early to judge how effective Ponce will be with Toronto. He performed extremely well in Korea, but now he’ll be facing the best hitters in the world,” the outlet noted. “The WBC could be a great opportunity for him to quickly regain a competitive edge, while also allowing Toronto to evaluate whether signing Ponce was the right decision.”